Motorists warned of major delays on Somerset roads this Sunday

MOTORISTS planning to travel to West Somerset this weekend are being advised to expect significant delays.

A 16ft high, 16ft wide, 103ft long 145-ton boiler is being moved to a paper mill in Watchet on Sunday.

Its journey will impact on those planning to use the A38, A39 and B3190, travelling to and from the West Somerset area.

The load will start its journey at 8am on Sunday, travelling from Sedgemoor Services on the M5 southbound to junction 24.

From there it will head into Bridgwater on the A38, turn left onto the A39 Broadway and continue along the A39 through Williton to Washford Cross, where it will turn right onto the B3190 and on to the paper mill at Watchet.

Throughout the journey the load will be escorted by the police.

It is not known how long it will take but it could take several hours.

During the move there are likely to be significant tailbacks and motorists are advised to avoid the area and to use an alternative route if possible – including the A358 which is suitable for vehicles under 4.2m (13’9”) tall.

The width and length of the load will mean that it will take up most of the road and there are very few safe places to pull the load over to allow traffic to clear.

The nature of this load and the difficulty of the route mean that the operation to move the boiler cannot be moved during the hours of darkness.

Comments (17)

I wonder how the large load will handle Canningtons new roundabout. Quite a good test for the similar size vehicles that will be frequently using the A39 through Bridgwater to Hinkley point c. Good luck!

I wonder how the large load will handle Canningtons new roundabout. Quite a good test for the similar size vehicles that will be frequently using the A39 through Bridgwater to Hinkley point c. Good luck!The Lodger

The A39 between Bridgwater and Cannington is already a nightmare with the new roundabout being built. I don't know why it is supposed to be taking SIX months for a fairly small job! I do wonder like 'The Lodger' if it will be able to navigate the new roundabout considering it is of such a small radius.

The A39 between Bridgwater and Cannington is already a nightmare with the new roundabout being built. I don't know why it is supposed to be taking SIX months for a fairly small job! I do wonder like 'The Lodger' if it will be able to navigate the new roundabout considering it is of such a small radius.Atomman

swjoduk wrote:
Why it is not coming of at Junction 23 is beyond me. Sending it town Taunton Rd with all that traffic makes little sense to me. Surely better going J23, BNDR then A39.

Because it is too heavy for the bridges.

[quote][p][bold]swjoduk[/bold] wrote:
Why it is not coming of at Junction 23 is beyond me. Sending it town Taunton Rd with all that traffic makes little sense to me. Surely better going J23, BNDR then A39.[/p][/quote]Because it is too heavy for the bridges.FreeSpeech?

Wow - didnt realise we had so many heavy haulage experts in Somerset!!

Now suggesting it's better to drive an over-weight and over-width load down a narrow and twisting A-Road in the dark!

Amazing. Keep up the good work.

Wow - didnt realise we had so many heavy haulage experts in Somerset!!
Now suggesting it's better to drive an over-weight and over-width load down a narrow and twisting A-Road in the dark!
Amazing. Keep up the good work.Guy Smiley

...and in other countries the locals are out in support of things like this as they recognise the EMPLOYMENT things like this bring is GOOD.

Crazy concept I know.

Not everyone can be call centre/legal/superma
rket distribution centre employees.

...and in other countries the locals are out in support of things like this as they recognise the EMPLOYMENT things like this bring is GOOD.
Crazy concept I know.
Not everyone can be call centre/legal/superma
rket distribution centre employees.Guy Smiley

Traffic horrendous already without this on Sunday. I am sure people are heartily sick of the disruption the building of this new roundabout is causing and for what? Cant see the benefits personally.

Traffic horrendous already without this on Sunday. I am sure people are heartily sick of the disruption the building of this new roundabout is causing and for what? Cant see the benefits personally.oldwoman234

The traffic is hardly going to be horrendous on a Sunday in April, is it?? I doubt many people will be out of their cosy beds at this time on a Sunday morning anyway! The roundabout in question is on a road to pretty much nowhere, so hardly a concern! But, I do agree, the half-built roundabout is going to prove interesting - but I'm sure the experts have it under control.......

The traffic is hardly going to be horrendous on a Sunday in April, is it?? I doubt many people will be out of their cosy beds at this time on a Sunday morning anyway! The roundabout in question is on a road to pretty much nowhere, so hardly a concern! But, I do agree, the half-built roundabout is going to prove interesting - but I'm sure the experts have it under control.......Dr Dave

swjoduk wrote:
Why it is not coming of at Junction 23 is beyond me. Sending it town Taunton Rd with all that traffic makes little sense to me. Surely better going J23, BNDR then A39.

Because it is too heavy for the bridges.

And it is not too heavy for the old bridges over Stockmoor Rhyne, the canal bridge and culverts over Durleigh Brook? Surely the bridges over the railway, KSD and Parrett have a bet er weight limit than these very old victorian bridges.

[quote][p][bold]FreeSpeech?[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]swjoduk[/bold] wrote:
Why it is not coming of at Junction 23 is beyond me. Sending it town Taunton Rd with all that traffic makes little sense to me. Surely better going J23, BNDR then A39.[/p][/quote]Because it is too heavy for the bridges.[/p][/quote]And it is not too heavy for the old bridges over Stockmoor Rhyne, the canal bridge and culverts over Durleigh Brook? Surely the bridges over the railway, KSD and Parrett have a bet er weight limit than these very old victorian bridges.swjoduk

swjoduk wrote:
Why it is not coming of at Junction 23 is beyond me. Sending it town Taunton Rd with all that traffic makes little sense to me. Surely better going J23, BNDR then A39.

Because it is too heavy for the bridges.

And it is not too heavy for the old bridges over Stockmoor Rhyne, the canal bridge and culverts over Durleigh Brook? Surely the bridges over the railway, KSD and Parrett have a bet er weight limit than these very old victorian bridges.

You will probably find it comes down to GVW (gross vehicle weight)for the bridge and not the total load for the bridge, If this was not the case I'm sure they would have gone via jct23 and wylds rd.

[quote][p][bold]swjoduk[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]FreeSpeech?[/bold] wrote:
[quote][p][bold]swjoduk[/bold] wrote:
Why it is not coming of at Junction 23 is beyond me. Sending it town Taunton Rd with all that traffic makes little sense to me. Surely better going J23, BNDR then A39.[/p][/quote]Because it is too heavy for the bridges.[/p][/quote]And it is not too heavy for the old bridges over Stockmoor Rhyne, the canal bridge and culverts over Durleigh Brook? Surely the bridges over the railway, KSD and Parrett have a bet er weight limit than these very old victorian bridges.[/p][/quote]You will probably find it comes down to GVW (gross vehicle weight)for the bridge and not the total load for the bridge, If this was not the case I'm sure they would have gone via jct23 and wylds rd.FreeSpeech?

Rob, there is a flaw in your plan, the 5-0 don't start that early on a Sunday! On a serious note, it will more than likely be down to drivers duty and driving hours regulated by the tachograph device fitted to the truck. A certain amount of rest between driving shifts is required, assuming the same driver did the whole journey down from up North.

Rob, there is a flaw in your plan, the 5-0 don't start that early on a Sunday! On a serious note, it will more than likely be down to drivers duty and driving hours regulated by the tachograph device fitted to the truck. A certain amount of rest between driving shifts is required, assuming the same driver did the whole journey down from up North.Dr Dave